Adding nuclear power can meet energy demand while not increasing carbon dioxide emissions

YOUR VIEW

March 22, 2010

Small refinements to boost generating capacity at U.S. nuclear power plants are making a large contribution toward increased use of clean energy technologies. These ''power-uprates,'' as they are known, provide up to 17.8 percent in additional power at a nuclear plant and are less costly than depending on fossil fuels or even wind and solar energy.

Yet few people know that the nation's 104 nuclear plants have added more than 5,600 megawatts from power-uprates since 1998 -- the equivalent of five large nuclear plants -- and that utilities plan to add another 1,751 megawatts by 2012. It's being done following the review and approval of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and without fanfare. At least one power-uprate has been completed at each of Pennsylvania's nuclear plants and in a short time frame.

To appreciate the full importance of power-uprates, one needs to recognize that U.S. nuclear plants last year posted an average capacity factor -- a measure of a plant's production of electricity -- that exceeded 90 percent, even though more than half of the plants were taken off-line for refueling outages. It was the 10th consecutive year that the U.S. nuclear fleet's average capacity factor reached at least 90 percent. Between stellar improvements in plant performance and power-uprates, the nuclear industry has added electricity production equivalent to 28 new 1,000-megawatt power plants to the grid since 1990.

By comparison, wind turbines have capacity factors of no more than 30 percent and as low as 18 percent in the mid-Atlantic region. Thus, for every megawatt of new wind capacity, an equivalent amount of new nuclear capacity from power-uprates alone generated three or more times as much electricity.

Despite the extent of their use, power-uprates have attracted little attention in public policy circles. There has been one notable exception, however. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved energy legislation last year that included a renewable electricity standard requiring utilities to supply 15 percent of their electricity from renewables by 2021. The committee agreed to allow nuclear power-uprates and new nuclear power plants to be used toward meeting the requirement.

Nuclear power-uprates are widely regarded as the most cost-effective way to boost electricity generating capacity, while meeting climate change goals. But there is also a lot of merit in extending the operating licenses of existing nuclear plants. To date, the licenses of 59 plants have been renewed for another 20 years and the rest are expected to apply for renewals, if they haven't already.

Beyond that, nuclear utilities are seeking permits to build as many as 26 nuclear plants using advanced designs. President Obama has requested an additional $36 billion in loan guarantees to reduce the cost of private financing for the plants, bringing the total available for nuclear projects to $54 billion. Loan guarantees have been awarded for construction of two nuclear plants in Georgia.

But achieving a carbon mitigation goal that many scientists deem necessary -- an 80 percent reduction by 2050 -- would require adding 69 new U.S. reactors within the next 20 years, according to an analysis done by the Energy Information Administration.

Congress needs to approve the president's request for loan guarantees so that nuclear plant construction can continue. Without such support, it will not be possible to maintain nuclear power's 20 percent share of the nation's electricity generation, let alone reduce carbon dioxide emissions to goal levels.

Nuclear utilities have demonstrated that real progress is possible with plant power-uprates. But certainly no less important are loan guarantees to make the construction of nuclear plants possible. Thousands of construction jobs are an added benefit. When immense good with little risk is the likely outcome, Congress would be remiss in not heeding the president's call for a nuclear renaissance.

Forrest J. Remick is professor of nuclear engineering, emeritus, and associate vice president for research, emeritus, at Penn State and a retired commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.